EU defense spending to hit 'historic peak' in 2025

According to AFP, the European Defence Agency (EDA) said on September 2 that the European Union's (EU) defense spending is expected to reach a new record of 381 billion euros in 2025.

Military vehicles on display at the 32nd International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, Poland, last September. (Photo: THX/TTXVN)

The 10% increase comes as European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) pledged to sharply increase defense spending under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

“Europe is spending record amounts on defence to protect our citizens, and we will not stop there,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

Of this year's total spending, nearly 130 billion euros will be earmarked for investments such as new weapons, according to the EDA. European countries have stepped up spending since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in 2022.

“To meet NATO's new target of 3.5% of GDP, much more effort will be needed, with total spending of over 630 billion euros per year,” EDA Director Andre Denk noted.

The EU's 150 billion euro loan package to help countries increase their defense budgets has been fully subscribed, with 19 out of 27 member states applying for funds, according to the European Commission.

The SAFE mechanism (Security Action Plan for Europe) allows countries to borrow at lower interest rates thanks to guarantees from the EU's central budget.

Many Western intelligence agencies and militaries warn that Moscow “could be ready” to attack a NATO country within 3-5 years if the Ukraine conflict ends.

Mr. Trump’s return to power this year, after repeatedly criticizing Europe for “not spending enough,” has created new pressure.

At the NATO summit in July, the US leader forced allies to commit to spending 5% of GDP on security-related spending, including 3.5% on core defense and 1.5% on broader areas such as infrastructure and cybersecurity./.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chi-tieu-quoc-phong-cua-lien-minh-chau-au-se-lap-dinh-lich-su-trong-nam-2025-260419.htm